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Have you ever walked into a space and thought,
"I'd like to take every single thing home with me? Those lamps would look
perfect here, and that chandelier- despite its size- would look perfect
there…" That's how I felt the first time I walked into the new Union
Station in downtown Denver. The renovation is
spectacular; the design is impeccable. Each piece fits the space and contributes to the historic feel of
the station. It's gorgeous: the couches, the lamps, the desk lighting. And don't get me started on the crown molding and the restaurant decor…it's something you should see in person.

Our schedules have changed a lot since the summer ended. Otis and Theodore are now in pre-school till 3:30 every day and I've transitioned from stay-at-home mother to working "3/4 time." Though it's been busy on the work front, last Friday afternoon I took some time to peek around Union Station…this is what I found.

If you want more information on the history and amazing transformation of Union Station click here. For more details on the restaurants and shops click here. I wasn't able to photograph everything because some restaurants were already closed for the day (Snooze is open from 6:30 am- 2:30 pm) or had not yet opened (Merchantile Dining + Provisions officially opens on September 8th and I've been hearing great things), so check it out for yourself!

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After my little self-guided tour, I grabbed a quick lunch at The Kitchen Next Door. I ordered a delicious beet burger, which was topped with balsamic
glazed onions, arugula and feta cheese. Lucky for me, and now for you, I have the recipe. Thank you Kitchen Next Door for sharing your culinary creations and for your great work through community outreach and education! Enjoy.

Preheat a pan over medium heat and add olive oil,
then the diced carrots, onions, and celery. Sweat until soft and all
excess liquid has evaporated.

Place roasted beets and cooked chickpeas in the food
processor with the cooked mirepoix and mix, pulse until a rough paste
forms. Empty mixture into a large mixing bowl. Add the egg and Panko bread
crumbs, and stir together. Add seasonings. Form into patties on a parchment-lined
sheet tray and chill. When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 350°.
Cook for 15 minutes until hot in the center but not too dry on the
edges. The Kitchen Next Door serves the burgers on potato buns with
balsamic onions, feta, and Arugula tossed in lemon olive oil.

I enjoy traveling, photography, hiking, street art, design, architecture, food trucks, gardening, the cosmos, cooking with the seasons, political activism and wallpaper! I know my interests span a variety of categories, here's where they all come together.